-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The NBA is without a Chinese-born player for the first time in 12 years , after it was announced Yi Jianlian has signed a one-year deal in his homeland .

Yi failed to earn a new contract with 2011 NBA champions Dallas Mavericks , and he has returned to China to join former team Guangdong Tigers .

`` It 's a huge pity to spend his prime years on the bench in the NBA without being trusted , '' Guangdong general manager Liu Hongjiang said of Yi in a statement .

`` He wants to play and we can provide an ideal stage . ''

Yi carried the flag for China at the recent London 2012 Olympics , his third appearance at the Games .

His departure is a blow the league , which is looking to take advantage of the potentially lucrative Asian market .

Current NBA star Dwayne Wade , a champion with Miami Heat earlier this year , told CNN that basketball still trails football as the world 's favorite sport .

The popularity of the NBA in China skyrocketed when center Yao Ming joined the Houston Rockets in 2002 .

The first Chinese-born player to take to the court in the NBA was Wang Zhizhi , who made history by joining the Mavericks in 2001 .

The NBA 's profile in Asia has been boosted by the emergence of Jeremy Lin , a Taiwanese American who shot to global fame with a string of standout performances for the New York Knicks during the 2011-12 season .

Lin , 24 , has since left the Knicks to join the Houston Rockets .

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Yi Jianlian , the last Chinese-born player in the NBA , leaves the Dallas Mavericks

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Yi has signed a one-year contract with China 's Guangdong Tigers

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NBA star Dwayne Wade told CNN basketball still trails soccer as the world 's favorite sport

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Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets has boosted the NBA 's Asian profile